In our latest round of questions we ask every year: “sorry, but how is it October already?” “It’s only 6pm and it’s so dark – when did that happen?” Yep, shocker, another season has rolled around and there’s only insert-the-correct-number days until you know what. But actually, we’re loving it. In between the crazy rain, we’ve also been treated to some textbook autumnal days: sunny and gorgeously crisp. And on days like those, there’s nothing better than heading down to the beach at low tide and, if the timing’s right, watching one of the epic sunsets we’re so lucky to get. But if the weather isn’t on our side or you just fancy doing something different, there’s plenty of other stuff going on this weekend…
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Go see some excellent art
Brighton’s pretty gorgeous, so it’s unsurprising that it acts as the muse for so many artists. It’s the last week of the Southern Plein Air exhibition at the Fishing Quarter Gallery on the seafront, so get down to see some great vistas of our city and beyond, witness some live painting in action and meet the group of artists who paint their works outdoors. For more arty action, check out Emily Stevens’ solo show Heartbreak at Brighton Art Space in the heart of the North Laine. In Emily’s words: “It’s about love and it’s about parenting and it’s about feeling like a child whilst you’re supposed to be an adult. And it’s also a show about painting itself, and how much I love it”.
Southern Plein Air: Until 6th October; 10am – 5pm; free
Fishing Quarter Gallery, 201 Kings Road Arches, Brighton, BN1 1NB
fishingquarter.co.uk
Heartbreak: Friday 4th October; 6pm – 9pm; Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October; 11am – 5pm; free
brightonartspace.com
Get your run on
Over 2,000 walkers, joggers, runners, pram-pushers and wheelers take part in Brighton and Hove’s free 5k parkruns every week. Whether you’re a regular or yet to give it a go, this weekend might be the one to start as its marks the 20th anniversary of Parkrun. And this weekend, city councillors will be taking on various volunteer roles at events across the city – Bevendean Down, East Brighton Park, Hove Park, Hove Promenade, and Preston Park. It might not be the best time to put your bin questions to them though.
Saturday 5th October; gather from 8.30am to run at 9am; various locations (there are also junior 2k events at Queens Park and Preston Park on the Sunday); free
parkrun.org.uk
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Raise a Stein at an Oktoberfest celebration
Forget pints, it’s Stein time! So Brighton might not exactly be Munich and Platf9rm isn’t the Theresienwiese, but if you’re looking for a taste of Oktoberfest without actually going to Bavaria, then this German-style event is worth checking out. It’s ticking a lot of the boxes: sausages from Brighton Sausage Co, Steins of beer from Hofmeister and Bison and lively music (we hope this means full-on oompah vibes) to sing/shout along to. Lederhosen heartily welcomed and your first beer’s included in the ticket price. Prost!
Saturday 5th October; 1pm – 7pm; £7.21; dogs allowed
The Grounds, Platf9rm, Hove Town Hall, Church Road, Hove, BN3 2AF
Tickets here
Dive into a world of chocolate
Calling all chocolate lovers! Brighton Chocolate Festival is back with more exhibitors and treats than you can shake your cocoa beans at. There’s a whole heap of ethically sourced bean-to-bar goodies from some of our favourite local artisan chocolatiers, such as J.Cocoa and Gatos Chocolate, as well as sweet creations from further afield, like Manc chocolatiers Dormouse Chocolates and small batch-crafted chocolates from Glasgow’s Kreuzberg. And look out for Cacoa Retreat’s flavoured chocolate – the green olive is a perfect example of something that shouldn’t work, but totally does. We love it a choco-lot. (In case you’re interested: here’s our favourite chocolate-related joke: ‘Yesterday, I ate half of my friend’s Kit Kat. Today, they did the same to me. I guess it was Kit for Kat.’ You’re welcome.)
Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th October; 11am – 5pm; from free
Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD
brightonchocolatefestival.co.uk
See this experimental music triple-bill
In what the organisers say may well be the first series of its kind, re/shape/sound champions experimental sounds from the global majority. Curated by multidisciplinary artist I Am Fya (who’ll also be performing), the triple bill features industrial punk from No Home, electro-acoustic Middle Eastern compositions from Kareem Samera and experimental music created from recordings of everyday sounds by I Am Fya.
Saturday 5th October; 7pm – 11pm; from £6
The Rose Hill, 70 Rose Hill Terrace, Brighton BN1 4JL
therosehill.co.uk
What else?
The Vegan Market is back at Brighton Open Market on Saturday (10am – 5pm; free) and that means plant-based goodies galore. It’s a great time to stock up on all kinds of foodie treats with over 20 stalls selling everything from doughnuts to sausages. And it’s the last outdoor Paper Daisy Events’ Makers Market of the year at Jubilee Square this Saturday (11 – 5pm; free). You’ll find 35 curated makers, artists and small-batch producers. Want more creators? You got it. It’s the autumn Maker’s Fair at Stanmer House this weekend, too (Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 5pm; free) with over 50 artists and designers showcasing and selling their wares, from jewellery to prints, paper sculptures, skincare, leather bags, ceramics, and more. If you’re down at the beach on Saturday, have a look at the Palace Pier which will be lit up in blue and purple to raise awareness of meningitis (you can check the symptoms here) and to mark World Meningitis Day. See New Venture Theatre bring Oscar Wilde’s classic tragedy Salome to life through physical theatre, choral acapella and visceral movement (from Friday 4th – Saturday 12th October; various times; from £10). And for a one-man musical that intriguingly combines rap, music, and stand-up comedy, check out The Adventures of Tawny Owl at The Caroline of Brunswick on Saturday (7.30pm; from £5). Fancy getting floral? Amaranta Bloom are teaching you how to create a hand-tied dried flower bouquet on Sunday (11.30am – 1pm; £45). Head down to the Loud Shirt Brewery and Taproom on Sunday for tunes from Brighton locals four-piece Americana-ish The Roebucks and soul and blues-inspired singer-songwriter Gabriel Mumbray (6.30pm; £5)